Brecon Beacons lightning deaths: Jeremy Prescott died doing what he loved, family say in touching tribute

Jeremy Prescott, with his dog Charlie, who was one of the men killed by mountain top lightning strikes. Telford & Wrekin Council /PA Wire

A man who was killed atop the Brecon Beacons by a lightning strike described how happy he was minutes before he died, his family have said.

Jeremy Prescott, 51, from Telford, Shropshire, died while he was manning a check point on the mountain range in south Wales, as part of a Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme activity.

He was one of two men killed in separate lightning strikes on the mountainside on Sunday. Two others were hospitalised.

As Mr Prescott was publicly named, his family released a statement paying tribute to a “beloved husband and father” whom they affectionately called Jez.

"We are obviously devastated to lose Jez, who was both a beloved husband and father, in such sudden and shocking circumstances," his loved ones said in a statement released by Telford and Wrekin Council, where he worked as a part-time youth worker.

“He was doing something he loved in a place he loved and had said only ten minutes before the incident happened that he was glad he was up on the mountain and that it was a lovely day.

"Jez was passionate about his work with young people for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which he had done part time for Telford and Wrekin Council since 2001.

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Colleagues also paid tribute to Mr Prescott, hailing him as a “dedicated individual” who had willingly given his free time for young people.

A Telford and Wrekin Council spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that the council can confirm the tragic death of our colleague Jez Prescott on Sunday.

"He was a very dedicated individual who gave his time to help young people in the borough achieve their full potential and was a trained Duke of Edinburgh Award support worker.

The spokesman added that the council is now considering an appropriate way to pay tribute to Mr Prescott.

A spokesman for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards said: "We were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Jeremy Prescott on the Brecon Beacons last weekend in such tragic circumstances. Our thoughts are with Jeremy's family at this very sad time."

Update: The Brecon Beacons Mountain Rescue Team has contacted The Independent to confirm that no selfie stick was involved in the incident.